Frank Cepollina Is Retiring
NASA GSFC Internal Memo: Frank Cepollina Retirement
“This is truly one of the most difficult memos I have ever written to you. We have worked long and hard to develop capabilities for this Agency and for the federal government. These capabilities are truly needed. Some of our efforts started as early as 1970, but few are here today to talk about it – except for me, and that is what this memorandum is all about. I have come to the conclusion that after almost 57 years with the government it is time to retire. It has not been an easy decision. I have been thinking and rethinking my decision, and changing my mind for quite some time now. In the end, I decided to submit my papers and will retire on January 3, 2017.”
![NASA GSFC ETD Is [insert buzzword] Itself](https://nasawatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GSFC-ETD-1024x573.png)
This reminds me of similar stories, or at least the beginning of some similar stories, with a caution I find myself ambivalent about. Is it valuable to this agency to do “good work” as we’d say, but in a way that is hugely expensive, in a way that’s only possible from having a strong stakeholder at your back, introducing the risk that in the end that good work finds itself with fewer stakeholders rather than more?
More currently, I’m reminded of on-going habitation investments, how good intentions to figure things out, or learn, or take the research up a notch, could easily morph in the end into some bigger project that’s actually in the way. The goal is not to just figure things out, if it’s done with more harm than good, setting the stage for taking that know-how and locking it up among only the so-called serious people.
I had the great pleasure of working for this man on HST during the critical 1991-1998 years. Cepi, we may not have always agreed, but that never got in the way of a wonderful working relationship and lots of fun with the crew at our monthly meetings at Ball. After I left HST, I used many of your “management” tips in my subsequent position. You have my unending admiration. Best wishes.
The dysfunction that Cepi caused through he and Mikulski’s protectionist policies stymied innovation at NASA. We all wondered how he would survive without Mikulski – guess he didn’t even want to try.
God Speed
Well, I’ll assume he’s realized there is little opportunity near-term within NASA. Shall we start a pool on who gets him?
In the great sea of NASA accomplishments, Cepi stands out, regardless of the disagreements natural to high-risk programs. His modular approach to an HST platform concept was not accepted but was proven to be the right choice as were most of his engineering and engineering management decisions. Of course, that entire on-orbit program was an amazing feat of management. To me, the Earth will Shake with his loss. Cepi, thanks for your courtesy and respect of this formerly young engineer on HST. God speed and I hope there is a book coming for my 13 year-old daughter to read (future engineer).